House Education Committee clears slate of K-12 bills, amends athletics, diabetes and privacy measures

The Virginia House Education Committee, in its final full-committee meeting of the General Assembly session, voted to report a package of Senate bills to the full House, advancing measures on student health, school safety, student data privacy and school program rules.

The package included bills that change preparticipation physical timelines for student athletes, set statewide guidance on diabetes care in schools, clarify school policies on cyberbullying and student records, and modify how school divisions may account for uncollectible school meal debt. Most measures were reported out after amendment or substitution and will proceed to the next stage of the legislative process.

Why it matters: The bills affect day-to-day operations in Virginia public schools, from how schools manage student medical plans and staff training to what counts as a school athletic activity and how districts treat unpaid meal balances. Several items carry potential fiscal implications or require further review by other committees.

Key debates and committee actions

SB 10 30 (Sen. Pokarski): The committee amended and then reported a bill changing the acceptable time window for preparticipation physicals for student athletes. Delegate Simons, the subcommittee chair, said the bill “applies to both elementary and secondary schools” and allows a physical to be valid up to 14 months before a participation date. Delegate Koiner raised concerns that adding elementary schools could create unintended burdens by requiring physicals for voluntary activities such as elementary running clubs; she moved and the committee adopted an amendment removing elementary schools from the bill before reporting it 16–0.

SB 13 03 (Sen. McPike) — diabetes care substitute and section-1 vehicle: The committee addressed extensive debate over the bill that changes how diabetes medical management plans (DMMPs) are handled in schools and how training requirements are incorporated. Senator McPike said, “right now a school system can refuse to do anything with the DMMP,” and the substitute was intended to fix gaps between doctors’ orders and school implementation. Committee members expressed concern that the substitute still incorporated training and the diabetes manual in ways that might impose broad training requirements on staff. Because of fiscal considerations, the committee adopted a section‑1 substitute limited to the fifth enactment clause and required a report back (via the School Health Services Committee) on November 1, 2025, then reported the bill as substituted, 15–0.

SB 14 86 (Sen. Sifers) — student data protection: The committee reported a substitute clarifying requirements to protect student personal information and records on school-issued devices; the committee voted 16–0 to report the substituted measure.

SB 10 17 (Sen. Roehm) — school meal debt language: Senator Roehm explained two technical amendments requested by Fairfax County to allow a division to carry over uncollectible school meal debt so the burden does not fall on individual schools’ budgets. The amendment was adopted and the bill was reported 11–7.

SB 12 57 (Sen. Bagby) — resident assistant opioid antagonist training: The committee removed a provision that would have required the provision of opioid antagonist doses (a fiscal item) so the bill would not move to appropriations; the measure was reported as amended, 18–0.

Other bills reported: The committee also moved forward bills requiring Board of Education guidance on cyberbullying policies (SB 908, reported 15–3), guidance on extreme heat and athlete protections (SB 1104, 14–2), optional professional development for supporting students with autism (SB 1293, 17–0), driver education classroom delivery online or in person (SB 1124, 11–6), transfer rules for children of federal employees (SB 1244, 17–0), classroom size exception for grade-6 ensemble music classes (SB 1237, 17–0), and a bill on screening and education for pediatric cardiac conditions (SB 1320, amended and reported 12–7). Several higher-ed measures (SNAP information for students, conforming measures) and other conforming substitutions were also reported.

Votes at a glance

- SB 905 (Sen. Stanley) — reported to House 11–6. - SB 908 (Sen. Stanley) — Board of Education cyberbullying guidance; reported 15–3. - SB 1017 (Sen. Roehm) — clarifying amendments on uncollectible school meal debt; reported as amended 11–7. - SB 1030 (Sen. Pokarski) — preparticipation physicals; amended to remove elementary schools; reported 16–0. - SB 1084 (Sen. Craig) — out-of-school-time exemptions; reported with amendments 14–3. - SB 1104 (Sen. Hashmi) — heat/extreme heat guidance for student athletes; reported 14–2. - SB 1293 (Sen. Stanley) — optional professional development for autism supports; reported 17–0. - SB 1124 (Sen. Boyceau) — driver education classroom delivery; reported 11–6. - SB 1244 (Sen. Durant) — transfers for children of certain federal employees; reported 17–0. - SB 1237 (Sen. DeMarant) — grade-6 ensemble size exception; reported 17–0. - SB 1486 (Sen. Sifers) — student data protection on school devices; reported with substitute 16–0. - SB 1303 (Sen. McPike) — diabetes care provisions; committee adopted section-1 substitute with November 1, 2025 report back; reported with substitute 15–0. - SB 1018 (Sen. Roem) — SNAP information for higher ed; reported 11–6. - SB 1257 (Sen. Bagby) — resident assistant opioid antagonist training (fiscal provision removed); reported as amended 18–0. - SB 1320 (Sen. Bagby) — pediatric cardiac screening/education; amended to remove a fiscal training module and reported as amended 12–7. - SB 1289 (Sen. Jordan) — synthetic color additives in school food (conformed to House version); reported 19–0. - SB 1037 (Sen. Pokarski, conformed) — reported with substitute 11–8.

Next steps: Reported bills will appear on the House calendar for further consideration. Several measures required substitutes to avoid a late appropriations referral or were amended to remove fiscal items; the diabetes measure was converted to a section‑1 vehicle with a directed report back to the School Health Services Committee by Nov. 1, 2025.